Thursday, December 01, 2005

Wahh! I unwisely decided to change colors and lost all my links- I don't have time to restore right now- later this afternoon- sorry-

I been going through some old work to rethink what I meant to say (or perhaps I can't remember what I meant but can only rewash the poem and try a new thought)

anyway- because the old one was really self-indulgent and terrible, I will put the new one first- then the old one.

Equilibrists redux (with regards to John Crowe Ransom)

Safely distant, held aloft by unbreakable laws, bent,bound as sure as stone remainshe is not hers, nor her, his.

Yet they endure apart, stillwater wears them down, and he,struck blind in moon-made shadowtips his heart, then eats his hat.

Dance, lovers, move into day,take what can never be heldin a hand with no life lineaside: it may be too late.

She invokes invisible, cries inside her empty car,there is no wedge between them,her breath retires, then forgets.

To take air in again, loveperilous and beautiful,the body will align itself,eyes close, tongue recite, repair.

**********************************

now- it may not seem very close, in fact, not at all- but here is the original(from 1997)

Under the Influence

Like Eponine I would die in your arms make you say you had loved melie with me in final misunderstandingsafely pretending there was a kind of substance

I cannot think for your breathlingering in the wake of youI would sooner die for some causethan try to piece fortuneinto weak accomplishmentwithout you

It has been long enoughI should be beyond your influenceout of your circle still searchingthere is no place left to lookrevelation came from you

I am your satellitealways close never touchingheld here reflecting wonderthe laws are unbendingbound as surely as stone is eternalI am here and will not be movedfrom this path I did not chooseanymore than the moon chose this planet.

June on the James 2013

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